expired Posted by LovelyCheetah | Staff • Jul 16, 2024
Jul 16, 2024 7:06 AM
Item 1 of 9
Item 1 of 9
expired Posted by LovelyCheetah | Staff • Jul 16, 2024
Jul 16, 2024 7:06 AM
Prime Members: TP-Link Smart Home Products: 4-Pack Kasa WiFi Smart Plug Mini
$20
$30
33% offAmazon
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Regarding these prices... they're not bad, but I suggest looking at the Kee pa price graphs. Spoiler alert; the prices appear to have been steadily declining and will probably go lower if past history of TP-Link devices on Amazon is any indication.
I use mine in a Google Home/Assistant environment, so my following comments don't cover Alexa/Apple/Samsung environments. Also, my comments below focus only on the Plugs and Switches/Dimmers.
Both product lines offer similar functionality with the TP-Link app (either the Kasa or Tapo app, although I've mostly stopped using the Kasa app, but had used it for years previously). You set the device up in the app, upgrade the firmware, setup settings and automation, and then go to Google Home and sync your devices between Google and the Kasa/Tapo app. Every time you sync, all of your devices in that app come over but the configuration and automation are controlled by TP-Link servers on the Internet. If that's the model you want, then the two product lines are nearly indistinguishable. I'm sure there's some small tertiary exceptions, but that's the main thing.
The Tapo products (plugs and switches/dimmers), however, have a second model. The second model is where you set the device up in the Tapo app, update firmware, and setup the configuration, but you generally do NOT setup automation there. Technically, you can skip the Tapo app entirely, but I don't recommend it because that's the only way to update firmware and tweak device settings (more important on dinners, motion sensor light switches, etc., but no matter what, firmware updates are important). After setup, and this is important, I NEVER sync the Tapo app with Google Home. Instead, I use Matter to connect to and control the devices from Google Home. This allows me to the create automations in Google Home that run on my Nest displays and speakers without needing to hit the Internet. The nice thing about this is that I can create automations involving multiple ecosystems, such as turning on my front porch lights (Tapo light switch) when a motion sensor (Aqara) is triggered.
I mentioned that it's important that you don't sync the Tapo app. This is because Google Home craps out and creates duplicate instances of the devices and you lose control of the devices. I wasted hours figuring that out. Fortunately, all of my devices in the Tapo app work via Matter (most plugs and switches over Thread where I use my Nest devices as a Thread Border Router), either directly or with the Tapo hub as a proxy Matter conversion device.
Happy to answer any questions anybody has as long as I don't have to set anything up from scratch to answer them. (I don't want to have to break and fix my automations.)
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Because of this, other programmes like IFTTT and Home Assistant can control Kasa devices without contacting the (TPLink) cloud servers.
If the cloud servers stop responding or are eventually closed down by TPLink, all Tapo kit will (at the moment) stop working, just like has happened for many other defunct IoT ranges. Kasa kit will still be available for local control.
Outside the US, Kasa is unfortunately being discontinued as a range in favour of Tapo. This is due to the business economics for TPLink (Tapo is generally the less expensive line to make, even in otherwise functionally similar products - e.g. switches).
Regarding these prices... they're not bad, but I suggest looking at the Kee pa price graphs. Spoiler alert; the prices appear to have been steadily declining and will probably go lower if past history of TP-Link devices on Amazon is any indication.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank simpat1zq
Regarding these prices... they're not bad, but I suggest looking at the Kee pa price graphs. Spoiler alert; the prices appear to have been steadily declining and will probably go lower if past history of TP-Link devices on Amazon is any indication.
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